SDG&E still plans to cut rural power lines off when winds kick up during fire weather.
— John Gastaldo / U-T

Looking to the start of fire season, San Diego Gas & Electric says it's working to prevent fires by monitoring wind speeds around the back country and preparing to cut power if it's too windy.

"The measure of last resort to prevent damage to our electrical system and potential danger to our customers is to shut off power when extreme weather conditions, including wind speed, exceed the design standards of our system," said SDG&E spokesowman Stephanie Donovan said.

In 2008, SDG&E proposed proactively cutting power to rural communities during fire weather — drawing opposition from school officials, water districts, telecommunications companies and rural residents.

They worried that the loss of power would cause more trouble than it prevented.

That plan was struck down by the California Public Utilities Commission, which reminded SDG&E that it didn't have the authority to cut power as it proposed.

Still, state regulators said the power system had to be operated safely. For SDG&E, that means that when wind speed stop 56 mph and fire risks are high, it must react by cutting power.

To know precisely how hard the wind is blowing, it's installing a huge network of remote weather stations. By Sept. 1, 125 of them will be in place, making San Diego County's one of the most closely monitored climates in the world.

After the PUC rejected the shutoff plans, SDG&E entered into federal mediation with its critics, which led to dozens of suggestions, many implemented, designed to reduce the risk of fire.

SDG&E has upgraded some lines to withstand stronger gusts.

And it's increased the use of smart switches called Intelliruptors, which give it the ability to remotely test circuits when there's a short to make sure it's safe before power comes back on.

But, in the end, it says that sometimes the only way to prevent problems is by cutting electricity.

"There's a de facto plan," said Gary Arant, general manager of the Valley Center Municipal Water District. He was among those who complained about the impact of power loss.

What SDG&E is now talking about is less of a problem.

"The areas that could be subject to turnoff are more limited than they were before," he said.

In the last few years, water agencies and telephone and cable providers have prepared for outage possibilities by beefing up backup power options. Even then, there are issues to be resolved, such as whether county air pollution regulators will fine the use of such diesel generators.

SDG&E implemented its protocol last year and engineers were ready on Veterans Day to deal with high winds by cutting power. That didn't happen, and nobody lost electricity.

All of this is related to the company's role in wildfires which tore through the county in 2007. While SDG&E has denied liability, it has spent around $1 billion settling legal claims and also agreed to settle allegations by state regulators, who accused it of shoddy maintenance and obstructing investigators.

In 2008, PUC investigators concluded that power lines caused the Witch Creek, Guejito and Rice Canyon fires. The fires burned more than 1,300 homes, killed two people and disrupted the lives of hundreds of thousands.

Donovan said this year's plans are the same as last year, though lots of winter rain will mean more brush, and thus, more risk.

NOTE: This story has been clarified. SDG&E spokeswoman Stephanie Donovan says she was misquoted earlier as saying company officials "don't ever plan to shut the power off."